Automatic retaining and wringing attachment for toilets



Aug. 24, 1965 A. MASTERS 3,201,804

AUTOMATIC RETAINING AND WRINGING ATTACHMENT FOR TOILETS Filed July 23, 1963 2 Sl'xe'eas-SheecI 1 Aaron Masters IN I "15 N'I OR,

Aug- 24, 1965 A. MASTERS 3,201,804

AUTOMATIC RETAINING AND WRINGING ATTACHMENT FOR TOILETS Filed July 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O s,2o1,sa4 AUTOMATIC RETAINING AND WRINGING ATTACHMENT FOR TOILETS Aaron Masters, 164 Smith St., Perth Amboy, NJ. Filed .Iuly 23, 1963, Ser. No. 296,997 Claims. (Cl. 4 1) This invention comprises an automatic retaining and wringing .attachment for toilets.

This invention comprises an automatic retaining and wringing attachment for toilets and more particularly pertains to a device adapted to be detachably mounted upon a toilet bowl to facilitate the washing of diapers in the bowl and the subsequent wringing of the diapers upon and during their removal from the toilet bowl.

The cleansing of diapers has always been `a disagreeable but necessary household task. It is the primary object of this invention to render the performance of this task easier and more sanitary.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a device which is readily attachable to a toilet bowl and will facilitate the washing and cleaning of diapers therein.

A further yobject of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the foregoing objects which may be removably attached to a toilet bowl in an inconspicuous manner therein and which Will enable the device to be always ready for instant use in the cleansing of diapers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device in compliance with the above-mentioned objects which will securely retain a diaper and prevent its accidental discharge from the bowl during flushing of the latter whereby flushing of the toilet bowl may be utilized as a means to Wash the diaper.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the foregoing objects which will not only secure and hold the diaper in a toilet bowl in an improved and very 'Safe manner, but may also be utilized to effect a `squeezing and wringing of the diaper after the washing operation has been completed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an attachment in accordance with-the above set forth objects wherein the pressure means employed in squeezing and wringing the diaper may also be utilized to apply a chemical agent thereto for various purposes such as sterilization, deodorizing and the like.

Another important object in -accordance with the immediately preceding object is` to provide a device in which `the treating agent may be applied `to the diaper simultaneously with and as a consequence of the passage of the latter through the device during the wringing action upon the diaper and in which small charges of the treating agent will be intermittently applied to the diaper during and as a result of such movement of the diaper.

A still further and very important object of the invention is to provide a device in compliance with the abovementioned objects wherein resilient fingers will effect a very secure gripping action upon a corner of a diaper and which gripping action will be further enhanced during the operation of passing the diaper through the device to effect the wringing of the diaper.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding object l ICC lizing thereof, enabling the partial or preliminary cleansed and/or wrung diapers to be stored or otherwise safely delay the completion of the cleansing process.

Yet another specific object is to provide an accessory 1n compliance with the foregoing objects which may conveniently and unobstrusively be mounted upon the underside of a toilet bowl seat whereby it will be completely concealed in an out of the way location when it is not in use and yet may be instantly available for use in either a concealed position when the seat is lowered or in an eX- posed position when the seat is raised; and which may very easily be applied to or removed from the toilet bowl in a single operation requiring only a few seconds of time.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction .and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a toilet bowl installation and showing the manner in which the attachment of this invention is applied thereto for retaining a diaper in the toilet bowl, alternative position of the toilet seat and its coverV or lid being shown in full and dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is .a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the toilet bowl a part of the toilet seat belng' broken away to show the mounting means and showing the invention applied thereto and particularly illustrating the manner in which the device may be detachably secured to the toilet bowl seat with the latter in its raised position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the device removed from the toilet bowl;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view taken upon an enlargedV scale in vertical transverse section substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 4 4 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular the manner in which the diaper is secured in the toilet bowl by the use of this device;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary View similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the position of the device when the movable carriage thereof has been actuated to initiate the drawing of the diaper through the pressure or wringing means ofthe device;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section through a portion of the device Showing the pressure roller resiliently mounted therein .and with the pressure roller being broken away and showing certain internal details of the structure of the pressure roller; and

FIGURE 7 is a detailed view partly in elevation and partly in vertical transverse section showing an alternative manner of securing the device to the hinge pin of a toilet bowl seat.

Although the device may be readily used in connection with other containers in which diapers are to be washed, it is specifically adapted to effectively cooperate with the conventional structure of a toilet bowl. Accordingly, its applicationto a toilet bowl of conventional design is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the accompanying specification.

The numeral 10 designates in general the improved diaper retaining and wringing device in accordance with this invention and which is shown applied to a conventional toilet bowl 12 including the water storage tank 14 for iiushing the bowl, and with the bowl having the usual toilet seat 16 and toilet seat lid or cover 18 each pivotally mounted upon a hinge pin 20 supported by the usuall brackets 22 upon the top of the toilet bowl.v Also shown at 24 is the upper rim of the bowl and which bounds the bowl in which liquid 26 is retained in a well understood manner.

Shown at 28 is a diaper which is secured to the device in a manner to be subsequently set forth whereby the diaper is securely retained against accidental loss when the toilet bowl is fiushed for the purpose of washing and cleansing the diaper disposed within the bowl.

Attention is now directed more particularly to FIG- URES 2-5 for an understanding of the construction and operation of the diaper cleaning attachment or device 1f?. This device includes a support frame indicated generally by the numeral 30 and which although formed of any suitable material is preferably of a U-shaped configuration including a plate-like vertically extending central member or web 32 having at its opposite ends a pair of parallel vertically extending end members or arms each indicated by the numeral 34. Disposed between the end members 34 the Vertical face of the central member 32 is provided with a forwardly projecting boss or enlargement 36 see FIGURES 4 and 15, which is provided with a pressure surface 38 which is concaved. All of the comupon this support frame 30. s

In order to detachably secure the supporting frame 30 upon the top of the toilet bowl, there is provided a mounting means. This mounting means may be of various desired constructions and it is to be understood that the principles of this invention are not limited to any particular construction of mounting. One convenient and suitable type of mounting frame is shown in FIGURES 2-5 with a modified construction being shown in FIG- URE 7.

The mounting means illustrated as an exemplification of Aa satisfactory structure for the purposes of this invention comprises a mounting plate 40, apertured at 42 for the reception of screws or other fasteners 44 by which it is mounted upon the undersurface of the toilet seat 16 -at the hinged end of the latter. The mounting plate is provided with reversely beveled edges which are complementary to and are slidingly engaged and retained in the corresponding cooperating recess of a dovetailed cross-sectional shape having undercut'side walls.

With the seat 18 in its raised position, FIGURES l, 2, 4 and 5, the downwardly opening end of the slot or channel 50 in the rear surface of the support frame central wall 32 may be readily engaged and retained frictionally or otherwise upon the mounting plate 40 by the dovetailed connection therebetween. Normally the seat cover will be in its raised position when it is desired to attach a diaper to the gripping fingers or to pull the diaper through the pressure means.

However it is intended that the device may be used in either the raised or lowered seat position to merely hold the diaper while it is being soaked or washed in the bowl or even when it is being drawn through the wringer or pressure means. In this manner, the device is secured closely adjacent the hinged end of the commode seat and lid so that it is received under the lid when the latter is in its lowered position in a manner which is completely unobtrusive but is exposed for operation when the seat and lid are in their raised position as shown in FIG- URE l.

As previously mentioned, all of the components of the attachment are carried by the supporting frame 30. These components comprise a pressure means in the form of a roller indicated generally by the numeral 56, a gripping means, see FIGURE 5, designated generally by the numeral 58 and a carriage indicated generally by the numeral 66.

Considering first the pressure means S6 and referring to FIGURE 6 it will be observed that this includes a preferably hollow cylinder 62 provided with stub axles of pintles 64 in its opposite ends by which the cylinder is slidably and rotatably mounted in the end members 34. For this purpose, the end members are provided with slots 67 in which the pintles are slidably received and resilient means in the form of compression springs 66 disposed in the slots and being anchored therein in any suitable manner, bear against the ends of the pintles 64 to yieldingly urge the roller inwardly of the slots and towards the pressure surface 38 with which the roller cooperates.

T he roller may be of any suitable material and is adapted to contain therein a liquid chemical treating agent indicated at 70 which is dispensed intermittently through a dispensing opening 72 formed in the side of the roller and which opening is controlled by a valve 76 having a diametrically enlarged inward extremity 78 provided with a circumferentially extending channel or groove 80 therein which is retained in a leaf spring member 82. The arrangement is such that the end of the valve member 76 will normally project slightly beyond the exterior surface of the roller 62 upon closing the Venting passage 72 therethrough. However, when the valve 76 is depressed radially inwardly, against the action of its closing spring 82, a charge of the chemical can be dispensed through this opening 72.

The roller 62 serves not only as a periodic dispenser of a chemical treating agent to a diaper in a manner to be subsequently set forth but also acts as a pressure roller to press the diaper against the pressure surface 38, as suggested in FIGURE 5, when the diaper is drawn upwardly through the space between the roller and the pressure surface, the diaper will be squeezed thus squeezing the water therefrom, the pressure member 36 being spring urged against the diaper by the spring 66.

It will be appreciated that any other desired structure may be provided for effecting the wringing and squeezing action upon the diaper as the latter is being withl drawn from the holding device.

The U-shaped carriage 60 is pivotally mounted upon the supporting frame and specifically upon the end members 34 thereof. This carriage consists of a pair of arms 84 which are disposed in spaced parallel relation, with one end of each arm being pivoted as at 86 to a side member 34, while the other ends of the arms are rigidly interconnected by means of a transverse rod 88. The proportions of the device are such that the U-shaped carriage may be pivoted downwardly about its pivot pins 86 so that the transverse rod 88 as shown in FIGURE 4 will be disposed directly above the space between the pressure surface and the pressure means, or alternatively may be pivoted upwardly and outwardly and to the position as shown in FIGURE 5.

Secured to andcarried by the transverse rod 88 of the carriage is a gripping means previously identified by the numeral 58. This gripping means comprises a pair of resilient fingers indicated at 90 and 92. The fingers may comprise an integral piece of resilient strip material having its mid-portion folded about the transverse rod 88 for pivoting thereon, and a rivet or other fastener 95 may secure the fingers together and to the transverse rod 88. One of the fingers, such as the finger 90 is preferably longer than the other which other finger has an inturned serrated extremity 94 comprising a hook or jaw. The two ends of the fingers thus comprise cooperating jaws which are resiliently biased toward each other by the inherent resiliency of the material of the fingers. The fingers are preferably arcuate to such an extent that they may be readily moved into and out of the space between the pressure means and the pressure surface as is suggested by a comparison of FIGURES 4 and 5.

As so far described, it will now be apparent that the carriage may be manipulated by pivoting about its pivotal supports 86 to thus selectively move the gripping means into a lowered position shown in FIGURE 4 and in FIGURE 1 in which position the cooperating jaws may be engaged upon the end of the diaper and thus securely anchor or retain the same when the diaper is disposed in the toilet bowl for washing and cleansing purposes. It will be observed that the clawed or serrated jaw or hook 94 of the finger 92 will sufficiently penetrate the material of the diaper and one corner o: thereof so as to securely anchor and retain the diaper so that the latter may be vigorously agitated in the bowl for cleansing purposes and during flushing of the toilet bowl.

When the washing operation is completed, and it is desired to remove and wring the diaper, this operation is accomplished by manually pivoting the U-shaped carriage from the position of FIGURE 4 to that shown in FIGURE 5. In this position it will be observed that the ends of the diaper so engaged in the ngers 'of the gripping means have been drawn upwardly between the pressure surface and the pressure means. During this lifting operation, it will be observed that the spring pressure exerted by the pressure roller against the pressure surface will serve to more rmly engage and cause penetration of the diaper by the claw-like extremity 94 of one jaw thus increasing the security of the attachment of the gripping means to the diaper. Thus the diaper may be drawn with perfect safety upwardly into the device in the position shown in FIGURE 5. Thereafter, since the additional pressure 'of the pressure roller has been released from the gripping means S8 when the latter passes upwardly from the pressure roller and surface, the finger 90 may be readily flexed away from the finger 92, the diaper disengaged therefrom and the diaper in a single movement pulled up through the device whereby the cooperation of the cancave pressure surface 33 with the pressure means or roller 56 will effect a squeezing and wringing of the diaper.

As previously mentioned, various different types of mounting means may be employed for detachably securing the device to a toilet bowl and particularly to the toilet bowl seat binge pin. FIGURE 7 shows a modified construction for that purpose in which the supporting frame 3i) is shown provided with U-shaped spring clips 96 having a readily releasable snap engagement with the hinge pin 20. Obviously, other mounting means may be employed if desired.

It will be appreciated that in some instances certain components of the device may be omitted and the attachment may then be beneficially employed for other purposes. For example, the dispensing of a chemical treating agent by the pressure means 56 may be eliminated and the roller 62 will then function solely as a pressure means to squeeze and wring the diaper as it is drawn through the device and also as a means to assist in resiliently retaining the gripping means in place and to also additionally close the gripping fingers upon the diaper during the initial part of the withdrawing operation.

Further, in some instances, the U-shaped carriage 60 may be omitted with the transverse rod 8S being fixedly carried by the U-shaped supporting frame, the device then functioning as a means to secure and anchor a diaper in a toilet bowl during the washing and rinsing thereof.

Still further, instead of the roller 62 containing a dispensable liquid treating agent, it may be lled with volatile 'or vaporizing deodorant crystals. n that event, the roller will have Ventilating means to permit the Vaporizing crystals to emit a deodorizing vapor, while the valved arrangement shown at 72, 76, 78, Si) will be omitted. In this arrangement, it is also contemplated that the er1- tire roller will be changed when the supply of deodorant is exhausted. However, it is within the purview of the invention to provide replaceable deodorant crystal, or cartridges or charges of deodorant in a single roller 62.

It will thus be apparent that the invention is adapted to many diverse uses although as aforesaid it is specifically adapted for use in washing and retaining diapers for the purpose above mentioned.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative Ionly of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those 6 skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A diaper retaining and wringing attachment for toilet bowls comprising a support structure, means mounting said support structure upon a toilet bowl and upon the toilet bowl seat with a gripping means carried by said support structure for gripping a diaper and retaining it in a toilet bowl, said support structure having a pressure surface, a pressure member movably mounted on said support structure in opposed relation to said pressure surface and cooperating therewith for squeezing and wringing a diaper passing therebetween, said pressure surface being in fixed relation to said pressure member, gripping means carried by said support structure and including a pair of cooperating gripping fingers disposed between and urged into closed position by said pressure surface and pressure member.

2. A diaper retainer and wringer for toilet bowls comprising a support structure, means mounting said support structure upon a toilet bowl, a carriage and a pressure means each m'ovably mounted upon said support structure and a gripping means mounted on said carriage and being removably disposed between said support structure and said pressure means, said gripping means including a pair of gripping fingers having one end of each secured to said carriage and having cooperating jaws on their other ends for gripping a diaper and retaining it in a toilet bowl and during passage of the diaper between said pressure means and said support means upon pivotal movement of said carriage.

3. A diaper retainer comprising a support structure adapted for mounting upon a toilet bowl, a carriage mounted by said support structure for vertical swinging movement, a pair or cooperating gripping fingers mounted on said carriage for movement therewith and for movement toward and away from each other, said fingers being pivotally supported at their upper ends and having cooperating jaws on their lower ends, said fingers resiliently urging said jaws into closed position for securely gripping a diaper therebetween whereby the latter may be washed in a toilet bowl, means carried by said support structure and engaging said ngers and urging them toward each other during their vertical swinging movement.

4. A diaper wringer comprising a U-shaped support structure including a central member having a pressure surface thereon, a pressure member comprising a roller journaled and extending between said arms and cooperating with said pressure surface for squeezing a diaper passing therebetween, said pressure surface being stationary relative to said roller, said roller being hollow and contains a diaper treating agent, a discharge passage in said roller lfor venting said agent from the roller interior to a diaper passing over said roller, a valve in said roller extending through and controlling said passage and operable to open the latter when depressed by a diaper pressing against said valve.

S. A diaper retaining attachment for toilet bowls comprising a support structure, means mounting said support structure upon a toilet bowl and upon the toilet bowl seat and a gripping means carried by said support structure for gripping a diaper and retaining it in a toilet bowl, said mounting means comprising cooperating members respectively secured to the underside of a toilet seat and to said support structure and detachably connected together.

6. A diaper treating device for toilet bowls comprising a support structure including a pressure surface, means for mounting said support struct-ure upon a toilet bowl assembly between the toilet bowl seat and the top of the toilet bowl, pressure means for gripping and wringing a diaper passing therethrough, said pressure means comprising a pressure roller journaled on said support structure and cooperating with said pressure surface, said pressure surface being stationarily positioned relative to said pressure roller, said pressure roller having a chamber containing a deodorant therein, openings in the roller surface communicating with said chamber and dispensing deodorant therefrom.

'7. A diaper retaining attachment for toilet bowls including a support, means mounting said support l'iXedly upon a toilet bowl, a carriage, means mounting said carriage upon said support for movement between raised and lowered positions, retaining means mounted upon and depending beneath said carriage for releasably holding a portion of a diaper when the latter is disposed in a toilet bowl and by which the diaper held portion will be respectively lifted from and lowered into a toilet bowl when said carriage is raised and lowered.

8. A diaper retaining attachment for toilet bowls comprising a support adapted for mounting upon a portion of a toilet bowl, a pair of cooperating pressure members mounted on said support and disposed above the liquid within and adjacent the top of a toilet bowl, a retaining means disposed movably between said pressure members and having a holding means for engaging and retaining a portion of a diaper, said pressure members compressively engaging and rendering more secure the holding of a diaper portion by said holding means when said retaining means is pulled with a diaper through said pressure members and the diaper is being thereby raised and lowered in a toilet bowl.

9. A diaper retaining attachment for toilet bowls comprising a support, means mounting and positioning said support upon the underside of a toilet seat for movement by said seat into and out of a toilet bowl, a retaining means movably mounted upon said support and having a holding means for engaging and retaining a portion of a diaper and thereby tether the latter in a toilet bowl, said retaining means being movable upon said support to raise and lower a diaper in a toilet bowl.

10. The combination of claim S wherein said pressure members have complementary cooperating curved surfaces, said pressure members being mounted upon said support for relative movement toward andl from each other, means resiliently urging said pressure members toward each other.

11. A diaper retaining attachment for toilet bowls comprising a support adapted for mounting upon a portion of a toilet bowl, a carriage secured to said support for movement in reverse directions, a retaining means secured to said carriage and movable therewith, said retaining means comprising a pair of elongated members resiliently biased toward each other and including cooperating portions adapted to grip and retain a portion of a diaper therebetween and operating to respectively lift and lower in said bowl a diaper gripped by said member portions upon reverse movements of said retaining means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said support comprises a U-shaped bracket having a central web and 8 a pair of arms on the opposite ends of said web, a carriage disposed within said bracket and inciuding a pair of arms pivoted at one end of each to an arm of said bracket, said retaining means being disposed between and pivotally carried by said carriage arms whereby said retaining means is given a swinging movement by said carriage.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said carriage arms are connected at their other ends by a transverse rod, said retaining means being journaled upon said rod, one of said elongated members having on its gripping portion a projection extending toward the other elongated member and the latter having an end with terminals beyond said projection.

14. A diaper retainer and wringer comprising a support having a relatively fixed pressure surface thereon, a pressure roller journaled on said support and means yieldingly urging said roller towards said surface for wringing and squeezing a diaper passed therebetween, a gripping means mounted on said support structure comprising a pair of gripping lingers disposed and removably received between said pressure surface and roller, said gripping lingers including a pair of cooperating jaws at the lower ends thereof for gripping and retaining a diaper while the diaper is positioned in a toilet bowl for washing and during passage of the diaper between the pressure surface and roller during removal of said lingers from therebetween, said diaper retainer and wringer being provided with a carriage having spaced parallel arms pivoted to said support at a location remote from said pressure surface and a transverse rod secured to said arms and positioned above said pressure surface, said lingers being mounted at their upper ends upon said transverse rod for movement therewith.

15. A diaper cleaning attachment for toilet bowls comprising a support structure, means mounting said support structure upon a toilet bowl, said mounting means being detachably connected to the toilet bowl seat hinge and said attachment being disposed between the toilet bowl seat and the top of said toilet bowl, said support structure having a pressure surface, a pressure member movably mounted on said support structure and cooperating with said pressure surface for squeezing and wringing a diaper passing therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,870 8/98 Biggs 4-1 1,759,215 5/30 Altorfer 68-244 1,972,778 9/34 Kennett 68-244 2,652,711 9/53 Sampson et al. 68-245 2,677,451 5/54 Haines et al. 68-245 2,744,403 5/56 Etten 68-244 2,803,832 8/57 Schif 68-241 2,808,594 10/57 Hodgson 6824l 2,808,716 10/57 Brunnen 68-22 2,814,191 ll/57 Gringer et al. 68--247 LEWiS J. LENNY, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD V. BENHAM, Examiner. 

1. A DIAPER RETAINING AND WRINGING ATTACHMENT FOR TIOLET BOWLS COMPRISING A SUPPORT STRUCTURE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE UPON A TOILET BOWL AND UPON THE TOILET BOWL SEAT WITH A GRIPPING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR GRIPPING A DIAPER AND RETAINING IT IN A TOILET BOWL, SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING A PRESSURE SURFACE, A PRESSURE MEMBER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE IN OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID PRESSURE SURFACE AND COOPERATING THEREWITH FOR SQUEEZING AND WRINGING A DIAPER PASSING THEREBETWEEN SAID PRESSURE SURFACE BEING IN FIXED RELATION TO SAID PRESSURE MEMBER, GRIPPING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF COOPERATING GRIPPING FINGERS DISPOSED BETWEEN AND URGED INTO CLOSED POSITION BY SAID PRESSURE SURFACE AND PRESSURE MEMBER. 